Indonesia's foreign minister has voiced support for Burma's democratization efforts, but says there is still work to be done.

Marty Natalegawa, whose country holds the rotating chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), praised the Burmese government's promises to release more political prisoners, enter peace talks with ethnic groups and hold free and fair elections.

He said the “democratic deficit” in Burma is less severe than it was at the beginning of the year, but that the country's progress toward democracy is not yet complete.

Natalegawa spoke Wednesday after talks with his Burmese counterpart, Wunna Maung Lwin, and a meeting with pro-democracy leader Aung Sung Suu Kyi.

He said he and Aung San Suu Kyi discussed last month's decision to let Burma serve as chair of ASEAN in 2014. Natalegawa said the chairmanship will give the country further motivation to continue on its path to democratization.

Natalegawa also said Indonesia and Burma have agreed to increase trade between their nations, which reached $300 million this year.